About John

John Watson was raised in London, Ontario, and graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1981. Watson then studied law in the United States, earning a Juris Doctor from the California Western School of Law in 1984, before attending the University of Windsor and graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 1986. Watson articled at a small downtown Toronto law firm in 1987 and continued there for two years following a 1988 call to the Bar, returning to London in 1990. Watson has practised at Nicholson Smith & Partners since 1990 and currently serves as the firm's managing partner. Early in Watson's career, the practice included frequent appearances in family and criminal courts alongside civil litigation, employment, labour, and real estate matters; since the early 1990s, Watson's practice has focused on civil litigation, including wrongful dismissal claims, breach of contract, personal injury claims, insurance disability claims, medical and professional negligence, and commercial litigation. Watson has conducted trials at all levels of court in Ontario, argued before the Divisional Court and the Ontario Court of Appeal, and appeared before tribunals including those under the Workplace Safety & Insurance Act, Canada Pension Plan disability benefits, employment grievances and arbitrations, the Labour Relations Board, and Employment Insurance.

Practice areas

Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Employment & Labour Law Personal Injury Insurance Law

Education & credentials

Law school
University of Windsor
Undergraduate
University of Western Ontario, BSc (1981)
Other degrees
JD, California Western School of Law (1984)

Listing compiled from public sources in July 2026. Confirm John Watson’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗